Learning Styles and Visualization

People have different learning styles. Not everyone thinks visually, although most people do. This is important for game developers like Andromeda Simulations to remember, because we specialize in the visual display of information. But we also have to pay attention to the needs of non-visual thinkers.

Non-Visual Thinkers

A small percentage of the population cannot form mental images, a condition called aphantasia. If you ask them to picture a beach, they can describe what should be in the image—waves, sand, a palm tree—but they can’t "see" it in their mind’s eye.

One of my colleagues has aphantasia. For years, she assumed she had no childhood memories. She thought she had blanked them out—until she learned that her brain simply doesn’t store visual images. She remembers events, ideas, and facts perfectly, but she doesn’t have mental pictures or videos of her life. Interestingly, she dreams visually, but the images disappear as soon as she wakes up.

For visual thinkers, this may seem unimaginable. After all, most learning materials, games, and business tools rely heavily on visual processing. But for non-visual thinkers like her, learning must engage other senses to be effective.

‍Visual learning

The Income|Outcome business simulation simplifies business finance by turning financial statements into a team sport. It works because of visual financial reporting—the Income Statement (P&L) and Balance Sheet appear as separate areas on a game board.

Every team decision moves physical tokens representing assets like materials and equipment, liabilities like bank loans and vendor debt, plus costs, expenses, and equity. This creates an immediate, visual overview of financial operations and the connection between profit (Income Statement) and cash flow (Balance Sheet).

Non-Visual Learning Styles

But learning isn’t just visual. At Andromeda Simulations, we design our games for active learning, engaging multiple senses.

• Tactile & Kinesthetic Learning: Participants touch, move, and hear real metal coins and wooden pieces, reinforcing concepts physically.
• Auditory Learning: Team discussions and market negotiations provide verbal reinforcement of financial decision-making.
• Experiential Learning: Open-ended decision-making builds ownership and engagement, leading to faster, deeper learning of business finance.

Beyond individual learning styles, the simulation also creates a high-energy environment through team discussions, decision-making, and direct competition. This ensures a strong sense of engagement, no matter how participants process information.

‍

Let’s Talk About Learning

Want to explore how experiential learning can transform financial understanding for all learners? Contact us to learn more about Income|Outcome simulations.

‍

‍